Cermaq Canada intends to test in Canadian waters a closed pen salmon farming system similar to the exprimental one that is being tested in Norway, as a safer way to develop fish farming by reducing interactions with the marine habitat.

The new technology, named Certus – which means “safe” in Latin - is located north of the Polar circle in the Horsvaagen region. Under water, it has a flexible composite wall and a traditional net, providing protection from predators and fish escapes.

The experimental pen system in Norway. (Image courtesy of Cermaq Canada)

Cermaq says that his new farming system is proving to live up to his name and is working perfectly. The company considers this as an important point, as the system needs to ensure the maintenance of adequate water exchange from deeper waters, as well as lighting and water oxygen levels.

"After three months in the closed system, we are excited to see that the fish are not only healthy, but are also thriving”, said Kjell Hansen, the Regional Project Coordinator. “The fish in this new system are actually growing better that our fish in the traditional net pen structures located in the same region. We are seeing minimal mortality’s and we have had no problems with sea lice.”

The fish will remain in a closed pen until June, and then they will be transferred to a common net cage for the last phase of their growth, until the time of harvest.

David Kiemele Managing Director Cermaq Canada

In Canada, the CEO of Cermaq Canada, David Kiemele, revealed his intention to conduct a test of this system in Canadian waters, if possible in 2020.

“The health and growth of the fish, partnered with the limited interaction with wild populations make this an exciting possibility for us here in Canada. The development of new technology is continually improving the way we operate and these latest results are really exciting,” said Kiemele. “We hope to potentially have this technology in the water here in Canada by as early as next year,” he added.

According to Harald Takle, Cermaq's research manager for aquaculture technology, the first Certus data supports the potential for salmon production in closed systems in the ocean during the first phase of saltwater growth.

“Our further ambition is to develop our closed containment concept which we have named "Flexifarm," in which we use modern cleaning technology for the intake water to prevent intake of pathogens and thus infectious diseases ", he added.

Image of the "Flexifarm" system design by Cermaq

Cermaq Canada is based in Campbell River, and is a subsidiary of the Oslo-based Cermaq Group. The Norwegian multinational, in turn, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation.

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